Automatic control for water and like systems



Oct. 16, 1934. Q C;D CASHlON 1,977,111

AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR WATER AND LIKE SYSTEMS Filed June 2l, 1933 Patented Oct. 16, 1934 PATENT Ao l-Ficisz AUTGMATIC CONTROL FOR WATER. `LIKE SYSTEMS Olly C. Cashion, Carrollton, Tex., assigner ofV sixty-two' and Davis, Carrollton, Tex.

one-half per cent to James C.

Application June 21, 1933, serial No. 79,784

' 12 claims. (ci. 137-19) other liquid in a part of the system in which it isv not exposed to freezing temperatures and for returning the liquid to that part of` the system from a part of the system exposed to freezing temperatures. Therefore, -control devices have been placed on the. system'automatically to drain the water therefrom to prevent freezing, but this isv wasteful of water and the object ofthe present invention is to provide a control in which the exposed part of the system is kept free of the liquid except when a supply is to be drawn therefrom.

A further purpose of the invention is to provide such a control which will automatically respond to the opening of a faucet, tap or valve to permit the flow of water from the system.

The foregoing and other purposes of the invention are attained in the automatic control device illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing and brieiiy described in the succeeding paragraphs hereof. It is `to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific form thereof'illustrated and described.

The'laccompanying drawing is a diagrammatic elevation, partly in section, of .a portion of a water system in which the improved control device is arranged.

' Referring to the drawing, the numeral 10 designates a water supply line which, as indicated, is

embedded in the ea'rth in the usual manner below the lowest frost line to` be expected under prevailing climatic conditions. Arranged in the supply line 10 also below the 'frost line is a vessel 11 to which the supply line is connected and through which the water may ow to a line 12 which may extend abovethe frost line and above the surface of the earth to a point ofuse such as at a faucet 13.

Within the vessel 11 there is provided a movable element responsive to changes in the direction of iow of the water and preferably com- 'prlsing a float 14 which may be carrled.on-an arm l15 pivoted in the vessel 11 at 16 whereby it may assume either of three positions-the intermediate full linelposition shown, a position shown in dotted lines `downwardly thereof or one into which it moves from the intermediate position to an extreme position in a direction opposite to the normal ow of the water, and a position .able motor, the other power line terminal L1 of vessel 11.

shown in dotted lines upwardly from said inter-` mediate position or one into which the oat moves from the intermediate position in the direction of flow of the water.y

Yielding means such as a weight 17 is asso- 60,

ciated with the movable element 14 so as normally to hold the element 14 in its intermediate position when there is water in the system above the control device. 'I'he weight 17 may be carried on an arm 18 pivoted at 19 and a stop may be provided -at 20 so' that the float 14 will not'be depressed by the weight below its intermediate position whereby the float will not move to its lowermost position until-the water in thesystem is forced back into the protected part of the system beyond ,70

the control device leaving the unprotected part of the system free of water. ,-The weight 17 is such that it. is overcome by the flow of water from the system and allows the member or float 14 to assume lits upper position to which it is moved 7 by the pressure of the flowin'g water.

Associated with `or 'responsive to movement of the member -14 is a suitable switch 21 which may be of the mercury vcontact type although it will appear that other types -of switches may be arso ranged to be actuated by a movable element such as the element 14. The switch 21 may be mounted in the oat 14 and the tube thereof may be of the shape shown to adapt it for effective use with the angularly movable float 14 with the contact 8 points of the switch arranged at the center of the tube as Aat 22, 22 to be bridged by the globule of mercury 23 to make contact when the ioat 14 -is in its intermediate position.

Leads 23, 23 in one or .more suitable nexime 9' water-proof cables may be extended from the vessel 11 to coxinect the switch 21 in one electrical power line terminal L2 and to one terminal 24 of a solenoid 25 or other suitable electrically operbeing 4connected by a lead 26 to the other -terminal 27 of the solenoid 25. The actuator 28 of Ithe solenoid may be arranged to operate a lever 29 controlling a valve 30 which may be arranged in a line 31 for connecting an air, or other non-freezing fluid, pressure supply in tank 32 to the inside An air-trapping chamber 33 may be associatedwith or comprise part of vessel 11 and the electrical leads and the line 31 may be extended into or connected with the vessel 11 1 l through the air-trapping chamber.

In operation, when water is being drawn from the line 12 as through the faucet 13, the flow of the water holds float 14 in its upper position, the force thereof overcoming weight 17. At this time l Valve 30 is closed and the water flows freely through the control device. When the faucet 13 is closed, stopping the fiow of water, the weight 17 depresses the float 14 to its intermediate position, the weight being sufficient to overcome the buoyancy of the iioat but not depressing it below its intermediate position because of the stop 20. This establishes electrical contact through the switch21, opening valve 30 and connecting air under pressure from tank 32 to the system which forces the water from the unprotected part of the system back into the protected part beyond or below the control device. When the unprotected part of the system and the vessel 11 is thus emptied, the float 14 by reason of its weight falls to its lowermost position, causing the contact through switch 21 to be broken and allowing the actuator 28 to fall or be depressed so as to close the valve 30. The air trapped in the system in this way serve's'to lhold the water in the system 4below the frost line.

If the faucet 13 is then opened, this releases the air and allows the water to iiow up through the part 12 of the system which swings the float 14 to its upper position, again allowing free iiow of water through the control device.

The control device is effectively used inwater systems in factories, shops, garages, service stations, parks, etc., in many of which places compressed air is already available, e. g. in service stations and garages for inating tires, in factories and shops for operating or controlling machinery, etc. For ordinary residence installations it will be necessary to supply compressed air or other non-freezing fluid `using a motor and compressor and possibly a compressed air tank, the switch 21 controlling either the motor directly or a valve on a compressed air tank. It will of course be apparent that the control device may be used universally on water supply systems having one or more outlets controlled by valves or faucets in part of the system which may be unprotected against freezing.

Modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed isz- 1. A liquid supply system including a part protected from freezing and a part exposed to freezing and having one or more outlets arranged to be closed, and means associated with said system and responsive to stoppage of the flow of liquid through the exposed part of the system whenthe same is closed for forcing the liquid in the' exposed part of the system back into the protected part of the system, said means including means for forcing a non-freezing fluid into' the exposed part of the system.

2. A liquid supply system including a part protected from freezing and a part exposed to freez-l ing and having one or more outlets arranged to be closed, and means associated with said system and' responsive to stoppage of the flow of liquid through the exposed part of the system when the same is closed for forcing the liquid in the exposed part of the system back into the protected part of the system, said means including means for forcing a non-freezing fluid into the exposed-part of the system, said' system being adapted to trap the non-freezing fluid therein to prevent flow of the liquid to the exposed part of the system until the system is opened to permit flow of liquid through and from the exposed part of the system.

. 3. A liquid supply system including a part protected from freezing and a part exposed to freezing and having one or more outlets arranged to be closed, and means associated with said system and responsive to stoppage of the flow of liquid through the exposed part of the system when the same is closed for forcing the liquid in the exposed part of the system back into the protected part of the system, said means including means for forcing a non-freezing fluid into the exposed part of the system, said means being disconnected from the system upon removal of the liquid from the exposed part of the system.

4. A liquid supply system including a part protected from freezing and a part exposed to freezing and having onev or more outlets arranged to be closed, and means associated with said system and responsive to stoppage of the iiow of liquid through the exposed part of the system when the same is closed for forcing the liquid in the exposed part of the system back into the protected part of the system, said means invthe non-freezing fluid therein to prevent flow of the liquid to the exposed part of the system until the system is opened to permit flow of liquid through and from the exposed part of the system.

5. The combination with a liquid supplying vsystem including a part protected from freezing and a part exposed to freezing, and having one or more outlets arranged to be closed, of a control device comprising an element movable to one position in the direction of ow of the liquid when flowing out of the exposed part of the system, movable to another position in the opposite direction when the exposed part of the system is empty and movable to an intermediate position when the exposed part of the system contains the liquid but the liquid is not flowing therefrom, and means operable by the Lelement in the intermediate position thereof for forcing the liquid from the exposed part of the system back'into the protected part of the system, said forcing means being disconnected from the system in the extreme positions of the element.

6. The combination -with a liquid supplying system including a part protected from freezing and a part exposed to freezing, and having one or more outlets arranged to be closed, of a control device comprising an element movable to one position in the direction of flow of the liquid when flowing out of the exposed part of the system, movable to another position in the opposite direction when the exposed part of the system is emptyand movable to an intermediate position when the exposed part of the system contains the liquid but-the liquid is not flowing therefrom, and means operable by the element in the intermediate position thereof for forcing the liquid from the exposed part of the system back into-the protected part of the system, said forcing means being disconnected from the system in the extreme positions of the element, said control device including a vessel in the system through which the' liquid flows to the exposed part of the'system and said element comprising a noat in said vessel, a yielding means acting on the float to depress it to but not below said intermediate position when the exposed part of the system contains the liquid but the liquid is not flowing, said yielding means being adapted to be overcome to allow the float to move upwardly from the intermediate portion under the action of the flow of water outwardly from the exposed part of the system, and said float being adapted`to ,move downwardly when the liquid has been forced out of the exposed part of the system. Y

7. The combination with a liquid supplying system including a part protected from freezing l0 and a part exposed to freezing, and having one or moreoutlets arranged to be closed, of a control device comprising an element movable to one position in the direction of ow of the liquid when owing out-,of the exposed part ,ofthe system, movable to another position in the opposite direction when the exposed partl of the system is empty and movable to an intermediate position when the exposed part of the system contains the liquid but the liquid is not flowing therefrom, and .meansoperable by the element in the intermediate position thereof for forcing the liquid from the exposedpart of the system back into the protected part of the' system, said forcing means being disconnected from the system in the extreme positions of the element, said forcing means including apparatus for forcing a non-freezing uid under pressure into the exposed part of the'system. s

8. The combination4 with a liquid supplying system including a part protected from freezing and a, part exposed to freezing, and having one or more outlets arranged to be closed, of a control device comprising an element movable to one position in the direction of ow of the liquid when flowing out of the exposed part of the system, movable to another position in the opposite direction when the exposed part of the system is empty and movable to an intermediate position when the exposed part of the system con- 40 tains the liquid but the liquid is not flowing therefrom, and means operable by the element in the intermediate position thereof for forcing the` liquid from the exposed part of the-system back into the protected part of `the system, said forcing means being disconnected from the system in the extreme positions of the element, said control device including a vessel in the system through which the liquid flows to the exposed part of the system and said element comprising a float in said vessel, a yielding meansacting on the float to depress it to but not below said intermediate position when the exposed part of the system containsthe liquid but the liquid is not flowing, said yielding means-being adapted to be overcome to allow the oat to move upwardly f om the intermediate portion under the action o the flow of water outwardly from the exposed part of the system, and said oat being adapted to move downwardly when the liquid has been forced out of the exposed part of the system,

inga non-freezing fluid underpressure into the exposed part of the system.

9. The combination with a liquid supplying system including a part protected from freezing and a part exposedto freezing, and having one or more outlets arranged tobe closed, of a control device comprising an element movable to one position in the direction of fiow of the liquid when flowing. out of the exposed part of the system, movable to another position in the opposite direction when the exposed partof the system is empty and movable yto an intermediate positionwhen the exposed part of the system-con-l tains the liquid but the liquid is not owing 4forcing means being disconnected from the syssystem is empty and movable to an intermediate said forcing means-including apparatus for forctherefrom, and means operable by the element in the intermediate position thereof for forcing the liquid from the exposed part of the system back into the protected part of the system, said tem in the extreme positions of the element, said forcing means including apparatus for forcing a non-freezing fluid under pressure into the exposed part of the system, said system beingl adapted to trap the non-freezing iiuid in the 'y'.

system when the exposed part of the system is closed. y

' 10. 'Ihe combination with a liquid supplying system including a part protected from freezing and a part exposed to freezing, and having one f i or more outlets arranged to be closed, of a'con.- trol device comprising an element movable to one position in the direction ofow of the liquid when owing 'out of the exposed part of the system, movable to another position in the opposite direction when the exposed part of.the system is empty and movable to an intermediate position when the exposed part of the system contains the liquid but the liquid is notflowing therefrom, and means operable by the element in the intermediate position thereof for forcing the liquid from the exposed part of the system back into the protected part of the system, said forcing means, being disconnected from the system in the extreme positions of the element, said control device including a vessel in the system through which the liquid ows to the exposed part of the system and said element comprising a float in said vessel, a yielding means acting on the float to depress it to 'but not below said l intermediate position when the exposed part of the system contains the liquid but the liquid is not flowing, said yielding means being adapted to be overcome to allow the float to move upwardly from the intermediate portion under the action of the flow of water outwardly from the exposed part of the system, and said iioat being adapted to move downwardly when .the vliquid has been forced out ofthe exposed Apart of the sys- Item, said forcing means including apparatus for i@ forcing a non-freezing fiuid under pressure into the exposed part of the system, said system being adapted to trap the non-freezing fluid in theV system when the exposed part of the system is closed.

11. The combination with a liquid supplying system including a part protected from freezing land a part exposed to freezing, and having one or more outletsarranged to be closed, of a control device comprising an element movable to 1 oneposition in the direction of ilow of the liquid when flowing out of the exposed-part of the system, movable to another position in the opposite direction when' the, exposed part of the position when the exposed'part of the system contains the liquid but the liquid is not flowing therefrom, and means operable by the element in the intermediate position thereof for forcing the liquid from the exposed part of the systemback into the protected part of the system, said forcing means being disconnected from the systemin the extreme positions of the element, said forcing means being electrically operable, and av switch controlling said forcing means and responsive to or more outlets arranged to be closed, of a control device comprising an element vmovable to one position in the direction of flow of the liquid when flowing out of the exposed part of the system, movable to another position in the opposite direction when the exposed part of the system is empty and movable to an intermediate position when the exposed part of the system contains the liquid but the liquid is not owing therefrom, and means operable by the element in the intermediate position thereof for forcing the liquid from the exposed part of the system back into the protected part of the system, said forcing means being disconnected from the system in the extreme positions of the element, said control device including a vessel in the system through which the liquid flows to the exposed part of the system and said element comprising a float in said vessel, a yielding means acting on the float to depress it to but not below said intermediate position when the exposed part of the system contains the liquid but the liquid is not flowing, said yielding means being adapted to be overcome to allow the iloat to move upwardly from the intermediate portion under the action of the flow of water outwardly from the exposed part of the system, and said float being adapted to move downwardly when the liquid has been forced out oi the exposed part of the system, said forcing means being electrically operable, and a-switch controlling said forcing means and responsive to movement of said float.

ODY C. CASHION'. 

